This time, we will thoroughly explain the history and characteristics of Gifu Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food, "Hoba Sushi."

Gifu Prefecture is located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, and is famous for its abundant nature and many towns where you can experience Japanese traditions, such as Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go, and Gokayama.

This time, we will introduce you to the charming local B-class gourmet food of Gifu Prefecture: Hoba Sushi!

What is Hoba Sushi?

Hoba-zushi is a local dish from Gifu Prefecture made by wrapping vinegared rice in magnolia leaves.

Its refreshing taste is appealing and it is eaten as a treat during farm holidays such as rice planting.

The scent of magnolia leaves is said to be especially good from May to August, and this is said to be the best time for "Houba-zushi."

In Higashi Shirakawa village, located in the Nakano region of Gifu Prefecture, until the mid-Showa period, rice paddy work was carried out in a collaborative manner among neighbors called "yui."

It is said that preparations for this "tying" were made the day before the rice planting or other tasks were requested, and that hoba sushi was served for lunch, as no tableware was required and cleanup was easy.

The History of Hoba Sushi

In the areas where Hoba-zushi is said to have spread, magnolia trees were almost always planted in or around the gardens of homes.

These trees have large leaves, and magnolia leaves in particular were believed to have antibacterial as well as anti-fungal properties.

Among these, the enzyme "hinokitiol" has strong antibacterial properties, and when combined with the vinegar in vinegared rice, it is said to have helped prevent food spoilage during the hot and humid rice planting season.

Using magnolia leaves allowed people to eat without using chopsticks and without getting their hands dirty, which was convenient during busy times of mountain work or farm work, and it is said that this is how modern-day magnolia leaf sushi developed.

It is said that the original seasoning for Hoba-zushi was simple: salted salmon imported from the Hokuriku region was marinated in vinegar, and vinegared rice was made with the vinegar and topped with salmon.

Characteristics of Hoba-zushi

The distinctive feature of Hoba-zushi is that it keeps for a long time due to the antibacterial properties of the vinegared rice and the magnolia leaves themselves. Therefore, it can be carried around to work, farm work, or lumberjack work, and eaten quickly in between work breaks.

Another attractive feature is that because it is wrapped in a magnolia leaf, your hands won't get dirty easily when eating.

How to make Hoba-zushi

From here, I will introduce how to make Hoba-zushi.

First, prepare 30g of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 50cc of rice vinegar, 2 cups of white rice, 40-50g of shirasu, 40-50g of salmon flakes, 3 pieces of myoga ginger, and 2-3 shiitake mushrooms.

First, wash the magnolia leaves thoroughly with water.

Mix sugar, salt, and rice vinegar into 2 cups of rice. Add the whitebait and salmon flakes and mix well.

Add finely chopped myoga ginger, then place the rice mixed with these ingredients on a magnolia leaf, wrap it up into a square, and tie it crosswise with a rubber band.

Leave it like this for at least an hour to allow the aroma of the leaves to infuse the rice and it's done.

Tourist spots in Gifu Prefecture

From here, we will introduce some tourist spots in Gifu Prefecture.

Yoro Falls

Yoro Falls is a magnificent waterfall that is approximately 32 meters high and 4 meters wide, and was selected as one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls in 1990.

This waterfall was once depicted by Katsushika Hokusai in his painting "A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces: Yoro, Mino Province," and is known for its majestic beauty.

The surrounding natural environment shows different faces with each season, such as cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn.

The area around the falls is known as Yoro Park, with seven unique bridges along the walking paths. Yoro Shrine also has a spring, "Yoro Falls - Kikusui Spring," which has been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous waters, and its water has been praised for its "mellow" flavor.

The water has a scent of alcohol, and according to the legend of Yoroi Filial Piety, when a woodcutter gave it to his aged father to drink, he became young again.

Magome Post Town

Magome-juku is a post town along a stone-paved slope. The original buildings have already been burned down, but traces of the town's past remain, such as the square-shaped topography and stone-paved slopes.

Here you can forget about your everyday life and enjoy a quality moment listening to the murmuring of the river, the chirping of the birds, and the sound of the wind blowing across the road.

Furthermore, in the center of the post town, there is the former birthplace of the literary figure Toson Shimazaki, which has been preserved as a museum that tells the history of Magome. We recommend visiting this museum and thinking about his life.

Another attraction is the large number of restaurants and other eateries in the area. Gohei mochi, which is said to have originated in Kiso, is renowned for its walnut and soy sauce aroma, so it's worth trying while you're strolling around.

Access to Gifu Prefecture

From here, we will introduce how to access Gifu Prefecture.

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Gifu Prefecture, we recommend taking the express bus. There are express buses from Tokyo Station to Gifu Station, so it is easy to access. The journey takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes.

If you are traveling from Osaka to Gifu Prefecture, we recommend taking the Shinkansen. Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Nagoya Station, then change to the JR Tokaido Main Line to Gifu Station.

Location of Gifu Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced the history and characteristics of Gifu Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food, "Hoba Sushi."

We now know that Hoba-zushi has features such as being easy to carry around and easy to eat.

Furthermore, Gifu Prefecture has many other attractive tourist spots besides Hoba-zushi.

We encourage everyone to visit Gifu Prefecture and experience its charm for themselves!

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